The defamation case filed by former Governor Keerthi Tennakoon against Minister Samantha Vidyarathna is scheduled to be heard at the Colombo High Court on March 20.
Keerthi Tennakoon’s compensation petition bearing number DMR/1467/25 states that in a press conference held on January 9, 2025, the Minister displayed photographs and videos of his private land in Thanamalwila, Monaragala District, which he has been cultivating for a long time, and stated that the land was located in a reserve in the Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat Division, and that the facts of the press conference were false and malicious.
The words, statements and texts of Minister Samantha were defamatory and those statements were also broadcast on the news broadcast of the Independent Television Service and the ‘Pattharen Eha’ programs. The compensation case has been requested to recover Rs. 100 million each from the Minister and the Independent Television Service for the defamation suffered by them, along with legal interest from the date of filing the case.